by Unknown
They didn't attack us though. My words had broke through to them, shamed them enough that they'd put out the flames and ended the chaos. A shot had cut through the hissing of dying embers and I saw that someone had given the burnt man mercy. Honestly, I don't know if it had even mattered, he must have been dead already, but I guess it made the crowd feel better.
Amid the silence, I walked through the blood-soaked dirt with Naye and Toby beside me. The twins had dressed in buckskins and had painted their faces. Half of Toby's face was completely black, from his temple to mid-way down the bridge of his nose. It made his eyes even bluer, seeming to flash out of that darkness. Naye's face was half red, vertically instead of horizontally. It was the left half. The right half, with its downward lightning bolts, didn't need any adornment. The thought of putting on war paint had twisted my gut so I had foregone paint entirely and had dressed simply in a leather dress. My only adornment was a belt with a ceremonial dagger hanging from it.
We headed toward the Council House and our army stood to either side, forming a aisle that led straight to the front door. Their faces were grim, some blank with shock, and all had hesitation around their eyes. It was hard to stand firm in your convictions when faced with the bloody results of your actions. I kept my expression neutral, holding back the screams I could feel clawing their way up my throat, as I passed by the soldiers.
Soldiers, what a horrible joke. These weren't soldiers. They were regular men and women who'd been pushed down for so long that they'd have taken any hand offered to help them up out of the dirt. Even a bloody hand. We'd offered them freedom and pride but we hadn't told them it would cost them their humanity.
The soft whine of an animal carried over to me and I stopped short before going into the building. Everyone went still around me, watching me avidly. I left Toby and Naye, and followed the sound through the crowd. There, in the parking lot, was an old, faded-blue, pick-up truck. Its windows were lowered enough for the Labrador Retriever inside to be able to breathe but not enough for it to jump out of the cab.
I went over to the truck and tried the door. It was locked. The animal started to growl and backed away from me but then I called on my moon magic. One of my abilities was an affinity with wolves as well as their descendants, dogs. As soon as my hands started to glow with the magic, the dog quieted and eyed me with calm interest. I nodded to it and conveyed my wish for it to back further away. It did so immediately.
Then I took the ceremonial dagger I'd been wearing at my waist and turned it so that the pummel stuck out of the bottom of my fist. With a sharp movement, I smashed the glass. I reached in and unlocked the door, then opened it for the animal. It was female, I felt that as she passed me on her way out of the truck. She ran through the crowd, darting around people until she found the one she sought.
A mournful howl started and I closed my eyes in commiseration. I could feel her grief reaching out to me and I started walking to her with heavy footsteps. I could have found her blindfolded, her sadness was so strong.
She was nudging the dead body of a man with her nose when I reached her. She looked up at me and I could feel the confusion layered in her grief. She couldn't understand what had happened to her human. Couldn't understand why he wouldn't get up and scratch her ears the way she liked. I guess that made both of us because I couldn't understand it either.
I heard a gun cock and jerked my head up to see a man aim his weapon at the dog. Before I could shout for him to stop, Toby was there, his hand pulling the weapon out of the man's grip. He spoke to the man in Navajo, telling him that enough blood had been shed, the gods were satisfied. I nodded my thanks to Toby before turning back to the dog.
“I'm so sorry,” I whispered and reached out for her with both hands and magic.
I sent her waves of soothing energy and tried to explain to her why the man wouldn't be able to love her anymore. I offered her a new home and felt a flicker of another magic inside me. Love. I gasped, my hand frozen between us, as the dog looked at me thoughtfully but the magic was already gone, washed back out with the tide. I took a deep breath and waited for the animal to make her choice.
She whimpered and came forward with unsure steps until I saw something change in her eyes, a decision made, and she launched herself at me. I caught her and stroked her fur, humming a song I didn't know like I'd hummed it a thousand times before. She nuzzled her wet nose into me and that's when I saw the blood marring her cream-colored coat. I tried to wipe it away, Out damn spot, out. Why was I thinking such nonsense? Oh right, the stories I'd read. Wait, had I read that story or had she?
“Ata?” Naye's voice came from behind me and the dog immediately started to growl at him. “Leave the animal.”
“Naye,” Toby shook his head at his brother and then knelt beside me and the dog. “We've stolen a life from you today, haven't we?” He reached a hand out for the dog to inspect. A few sniffs and then he was able to lay his palm on the dog's coat. “I think that we should provide you with a new one in return.”
I gaped at him. How had he known exactly what to do with her? Oh, of course. He had some of my moon magic inside him now. He'd be able to commune with her as well as I could. I watched, intrigued, as the hand he was petting her with glowed just a little. I don't think he even realized he was magically bonding with her. I almost stopped him when I saw how far he was unknowingly taking it, but something inside me whispered to let it be. That sometimes bonds made unknowingly were the best bonds of all.
“What's your name?” Toby asked as he searched the collar on the animal and found a tag. “Doba,” he whispered and I felt the bond cement between them. This Doba was now his. The crowd murmured around us and I realized the name had unsettled them.
“What? What does it mean?” Then my eyes widened as the translation came to me, rising up through my memories. Her name meant No war. “I guess you're smarter than us all,” I said to Doba and stood. “Alright, Naye, now we can go inside.”
We went back to the Council House, Doba trailing after us, as the crowd cast the animal wary looks. Oh yes, that name had definitely unsettled them. I imagine it seemed like a bad omen, especially after one of them almost shot her. Honestly, I couldn't argue with that assessment though I hardly needed an omen to tell me we were headed for disaster.
The doors to the Council House were wide open and we went through them, into the council chamber. The walls of the round room had been painted with beautiful murals entitled The History and Progress of the Navajo Nation. It was now painted over with the blood of that progress. Doba pushed against my legs, edging between me and Toby. I absently reached down and scratched her head as I surveyed the carnage.
Most of the council members hadn't even made it out of their seats. They'd been taken by surprise, overwhelmed by the savagery and numbers of our army. This hadn't been a battle. It was, as I'd predicted, a slaughter.
Behind us came the men and women who'd been chosen to take over the leadership of the Navajo Nation. They directed other people to remove the bodies and have the room cleaned now that the gods had witnessed it. Yes, some soap and water would make everything better, wouldn't it?
Images of other paintings filled my mind suddenly. Another battle scene, an attack that had been meant to be a slaughter but had twisted halfway through, and the aggressors had ended up being the ones slaughtered. Piles of bodies at the base of a pyramid and eyes the color of blood. I shook my head free of the memories, not even sure who they belonged to anymore. Were they her's or mine. I swallowed hard as Toby helped me past the bodies and to the front of the room.
When I turned around, I saw that the army had followed us in. Well, as much as could fit into the chamber. They were looking toward us expectantly and I realized they needed guidance, needed reassurance that all this horror had been done for the greater good. I looked toward Nayenezgani, he'd have to reassure them because I couldn't. I couldn't even reassure myself.
“We've had a great victory today,” Naye looked fierce
in his war paint and his voice matched that ferocity. The room quieted immediately. “This is the beginning of the new Navajo Nation. The poison has been purged from our blood and now we must cleanse the open wound. Go out into our lands, go as we planned, and rid our land of any interlopers. If they are not of the tribe, they must be expelled!”
A cheer from the crowd.
“This is your land and you must take it back!” Naye continued. “Once we are free of the taint, we will start building our walls. A perimeter will be established with temporary barricades until permanent walls can be erected. Stay strong and see this through, my people. We will be victorious. The Navajo Nation will truly become its own independent Nation and our lands will flourish!”
Another cheer. I cringed and Doba whimpered.
“Go now, keep our plans in motion,” Naye finished. “Your gods are behind you.” He turned and nodded to us, our cue to trace home.
Toby picked up Doba and I wrapped my arms around them both. Right before he traced us back to the twin's territory, I looked up and saw the fear in his eyes.
Chapter Forty
“Tell me that was what you wanted,” I whispered to Toby later that night. “Look at me and tell me this is as you planned it.”
“War is never easy,” Toby glanced at me and then back into his mug.
Doba was sleeping on the floor at his feet. We'd bathed her and then she'd roamed the house a bit, looking for her dead master I suspect. I let her look for awhile and then was about to go and comfort her when Toby stood and went to her. She calmed and came back to the kitchen with him, where she curled up by his feet and promptly went to sleep. It had made me smile and wonder if he knew of the bond he'd made. I could have told him but I realized it was something he needed to discover for himself.
“That wasn't war,” I gave a huff that had the sound of tears to it. “That was murder.”
“It was necessary,” Toby finally raised his eyes to mine. “Those people were corrupt. They no longer had the best interest of the Navajo in mind. Now all the tribes may join together and become a Nation strong enough to rival the United States.”
His eyes were so very blue, made more vibrant by the circle of brown, and they were liquid in their fear. Yes, I knew it was fear. I could feel the cool ache of it in him, strong enough that it leapt from him to me. He was afraid we'd done the wrong thing and afraid he'd pulled me into his sin.
“I don't think you even believe your own words,” I said sadly. “I think you know, as well as I, that this day will have repercussions to it that will destroy our people.”
“They're already dying,” Naye announced as he came into the kitchen. “At least now they have a chance at living.”
“What chance?” I asked him. “That slaughter will not go unnoticed. Someone will seek justice for it.”
“It was justice!” Naye pounded his fist onto the table, shaking Toby's mug of tea and waking Doba. She started to whine and pushed into Toby's legs. He reached down and rubbed her head to quiet her.
“Naye, calm yourself,” Toby said sternly.
“Calm myself? No, I won't calm myself. She needs to understand,” Naye shook his head and pointed at me. “You have no vision, Ata. You never have. You see only the here and now, never the possibilities of the future.”
“Oh I see them,” I stood up to face him. “I see both them and you very clearly. It's not that I don't see the possibilities in the future, it's that I see as the moon does, from a distance. Further away but more complete. I see the here and now better than you, unencumbered by your aggression or passion. The future, as I see it, will not have you leading our people to greatness. You'll lead them to death, War God. You just can't help it, it's in your very nature.”
He slapped me and I fell onto the table, mugs crashing to the floor as Toby shot to his feet. He scooped me up and set me aside, looking over me quickly to make sure I was unharmed. Doba was barking at Naye, all fear gone, replaced by an instinct to protect. Toby laid his hand to my stinging cheek and his irises started to bleed blue out past the brown and into the white.
“No,” I whispered and put my hand over his. “Let it go. There's been enough violence today. Doba, come here, girl.” The dog gave one last growl and then came to sit beside me. “Good girl,” I scratched her head.
“She questioned my honor,” Naye raged behind Toby. “If you can't control your woman, you don't deserve her.”
“I have no need of a woman I can control,” Toby turned his head to stare down Naye and Doba's ears perked up as she watched the exchange avidly. “Only a lesser man would. A man who needs a woman to be beneath him so that he can stand taller. I don't need to strike a woman to feel my own strength. I'm not that man. I'm not you.”
“You were man enough to take her from me,” Naye growled. “Man enough to fight your own brother for his wife. Now you say you're above keeping her in line? What was point? Why take the Godhunter if not to control her? If we fail our people, it's because of you. Because of this!” He waved his hand at me.
“Godhunter?” I frowned, seeing that memory of the dead god once more. Godhunter, that word, it coated my tongue like honey. Like honey-colored eyes and blood-colored hair. Like strange writing glowing on an angel's cheek and words spoken in a strange accent. Like a spear held in my hands with the power to restore a life. A second life. I pressed my hands to my head and moaned.
“Ata,” Toby was at my side again with a glass of water in his hands. “Drink this, it will help.”
“So you're not above controlling her after all,” Naye spat as the water eased my mind and my worries.
“Go see to the army,” Toby said to Naye. “I will see to Atahensic.” He led me past Naye with Doba trailing after us. We went straight to the tracing room where he picked up Doba, pulled me in tight to his chest, and traced us all back to his waterfall.
Into the water again and then out into his sanctuary. I was a little surprised at how well Doba did in the water but then some dogs love the water. I guess she was more perfect for Toby than I'd realized.
I took a deep, relieved breath as Doba yipped excitedly and ran ahead. We followed her more slowly, our hands joined together. As the dog explored the garden happily, Toby let go of me and went to stand near the pool in the center of the garden.
He lifted his hands and the plant life shifted, transforming for him. A bed emerged from the ground, a soft mattress of white draped in thick pale fur blankets. Around the bed, the trees angled and arched, draping themselves like a canopy. Flowers bloomed and the light around us softened. The scent of night blooming jasmine filled the air.
“Ata,” he whispered and held a hand out to me.
I went forward with a smile. I'd never known men could be so sweet, so romantic. My first husband had been cruel and Naye, by comparison, had been kind but he'd never been like this. He'd cajoled and seduced but it was never tender. Now Naye had shown his true colors. He was more like my first husband after all and I was even more thankful that I had chosen Toby this time.
I went over to him and slid my hands over his hard stomach, lifting his shirt up and over his head. He kicked away his clothes and relieved me of mine just as quickly. Then we stood, looking at each other with soft smiles on our faces. I'd never been so happy and all I was doing was standing there looking at him.
The beautiful contours of his face would forever be etched into my heart along with that moment. The almond shaped eyes, so blue as to make the sky jealous. The generous mouth, soft on my own when he kissed me. The blades of his cheekbones, right beneath his eyes, giving him a proud lift. The dark slash of his brows and the dramatic sweep of his nose. It was all so beautiful to me.
“I wish you would wear your hair down,” I murmured and reached for his braid.
“I always thought it was better to make myself look different from Naye.”
“You do look different from Naye,” I smiled. “The fall of your hair has nothing to do with it.”
“I'll have
to wear a side braid to hold my feather,” he sat on the edge of the bed and took his feather from his braid.
“Let me,” I said and undid his braid.
His hair was so heavy, heavier than my baby-fine strands. His were thick and glassy black, pouring through my fingers like water. They didn't need much urging to free themselves from their bondage. That heavy black fell around his dark face like a curtain, a frame for something precious. He stared at me intensely as I took a small section of his hair and braided it quickly. I tied a piece of leather at its end and he slid the feather into it, the leather tightening with magic.
“So much better,” I stroked my hand through his hair. It fell past his shoulders, outlining the curve of his biceps.
“You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen,” he touched my face lightly. “Such a mix of races in you. I see the Cherokee and the Black Foot but they're tempered by Caucasian features and Asian.”
“Is that what I am?” I asked, lifting my hand to touch his.
“What you are is a goddess,” he smiled. “But yes, your body is a blending of races.”
“How did that happen?” I asked, confused. “How did so many races come together in one person?”
“Humans found ways to explore the world,” he shrugged. “They discovered each other and some even loved one another.”
“Can you ever love me as much as you love her?” I pushed the words past my suddenly cold lips.
“Ata,” he closed his eyes briefly. “You are her. Can't you see that? You're more than your memories; you're flesh, blood, and bone. You're breath, heart, and will. The physical changes the spiritual. If it wasn't true, you wouldn't have chosen me. You'd be with Naye.”
“I don't know,” I chewed at my lip and he laughed, placing a finger over my mouth.
“See? This is not your mannerism. This is something she does when she's confused. You are her and she is you. Together, you're the woman I love.”